The Marlborough Public Schools will work in cooperation with parent/guardians, students and physicians to minimize the risks for children with life-threatening allergies (LTA) and to provide a safe educational environment for all students. The focus of allergy management will be prevention, emergency response education, awareness, communication and collaboration with medical professionals and families.

Such guidelines shall include:  District wide general medical emergency plans, life-threatening allergy emergency plans, individual health care plans for all students diagnosed with LTA, appropriate training of staff, availability of on-site medical equipment for quick response to life-threatening allergic reactions, and such other guidelines that will ensure that students with LTA’s can participate in school activities without undue fear or harm from exposure to life-threatening food/ allergens.

Marlborough Public Schools will:

•  Educate students about life-threatening allergies through the Health & Wellness curriculum.

•  Educate students about reducing risks relative to life-threatening allergies by not trading food or sharing food with others, not eating anything with unknown ingredients or known to contain the allergen and being proactive in care and management of their allergies or medical condition.

•  Educate students & families that outside food is not to be brought into a classroom to commemorate a holiday or birthday and only Teachers who use food in their classrooms as part of the curricula, will be able to do so with prior knowledge and permission of the parents/guardian(s) and building principal.

•  Educate students & families that food or beverages may not be consumed on any school bus or van transportation.  Exception: students with a documented medical condition that requires food as part of the treatment).

•  Educate students & families that while on field trips, only food provided by school cafeterias or families can be consumed.

•  Ensure that all staff, students and families are made aware that Latex products (balloons, gloves, etc.) are prohibited in the Marlborough Public Schools.

•  Ensure that the food services director and kitchen managers will have knowledge of all menus, food products, and ingredients served within the cafeteria and maintain “serve safe” and all allergy certification.

•  Ensure that LTA Food Allergy tables are maintained in the schools as needed.

•  Ensure school nurses are proficient with the up-to-date information and practices about life-threatening allergies prevention and medical responses.

•  Ensure that school nurses communicate with families of students who present a diagnosis of a life-threatening allergy diagnosis to discuss available interventions to meet the student´s LTA needs including Individual Health Care (IHC) Plans, proactive exposure avoidance and response protocols, 504s, Allergy Action Plan (AAP), and other measures as needed. The district´s Nurse Leader will ensure appropriate implementation of IHC plans.

•  Develop, implement and maintain general LTA procedures at the district, school and classroom levels to ensure the safety of students with life-threatening allergies. Such procedures should be reflected in an LTA procedure manual. This manual shall be reviewed and maintained by the District Wellness Committee.

•  Train and educate staff and appropriate personnel on LTA related procedures

Although not every circumstance that may develop can be anticipated, in an emergency situation, the interventions/guidelines in place are based on medically accurate information and evidence-based practices and experience.

REFS.:     Managing Life Threatening Allergies in Schools. Massachusetts Department of Education and Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 2002.

Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network: http://www.foodallergy.org

Approved: 9/26/23

Approved: 8/27/24